Reclaiming History:

Reclaiming History presents powerful works by Black Southern artists who emerged in the 1980s, carrying the energy of the Civil Rights Movement into a new era. Out of Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi came painters, sculptors, and mixed-media artists who used their craft to confront police brutality, voter suppression, and the lingering machinery of Jim Crow.

Some works spoke directly, naming injustice with bold clarity. Others encoded meaning into abstract forms, textures, and symbols—layering survival strategies into visual language. Together, these artists transformed everyday materials into tools for truth-telling, resistance, and community healing.

Rooted in the South’s legacy of resilience, the collection highlights how art becomes both witness and catalyst in the ongoing struggle for justice. Reclaiming History invites visitors to experience the creativity, courage, and vision of artists whose work continues to shape cultural and social justice movements today.